If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise! It’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day, celebrated every year on 10th July. We thought it’d be a great opportunity to think about who we’re going to invite to our very own Steiff teddy bears’ picnic. Trust us, with over 120 Steiff teddy bears to choose from, it’s not been an easy decision!
We’ve also got some great suggestions about how you can celebrate Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day, with something for every Steiff fan, large or small. What better excuse to invite your fellow teddy bear fans round for a nice picnic, or even just spend the day appreciating your own collection of fuzzy friends.
But first, let’s get our facts straight – what’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day all about?
Of course, Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day is inspired by the popular singalong song about a gathering of carefree teddy bears having a picnic in the woods. However, a little-known fact is that teddy bears got their name for none other than former American president, Theodore Roosevelt. The story goes that during a hunting trip in 1902, Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear that was tied to a tree, claiming it’d be ‘unsportsmanlike’ – and the bear was then referred to as ‘Teddy’s Bear’ in political cartoons.
Soon after, American toyshops began making ‘Teddy Bear’, a plush bear toy. Around the same time, in Germany, Steiff was also developing one of the first teddy bears that they would later become world-famous for.
Since then, Steiff has gone on to make many different bears, and after much deliberation, we’ve chosen who we’ll be inviting to our own Teddy Bears’ Picnic on 10th July!
First of all, we’ll need a bear that will remember to take the sandwiches and the picnic blanket! A wise, responsible bear with a good head on his shoulders, any of Steiff’s Classic Teddy Bears are up to the job of making sure the rest of the teddies get to the picnic without a hitch. With a classic design that’s stood the test of time, these bears are the grandteddies of the cuddly bear world.
A journey down to the woods wouldn’t be complete without the world’s most well-travelled bear, Paddington. We’re hoping Steiff Paddington Bear won’t get lost on his way, he is rather prone to getting himself caught up in unusual situations! We just hope Paddington brings his suitcase full of yummy marmalade sandwiches.
What picnic would be complete without sweet snacks? It’s a well-known fact that bears love honey, but none more so than Winnie-the-Pooh! We’ll definitely be inviting Steiff Winnie the Pooh to our picnic, and Piglet too. Just don’t forget to bring napkins, because things tend to get a bit sticky with clumsy Pooh bear around…
For our last bear, we really struggled to choose from our huge collection of Steiff bears, so we’ve decided to hold a Teddy Bears’ Picnic in the Steiff Shop HQ so every bear can come! Lasse the Polar Bear and Grizzly Bear Joseph will be there, as well as bears from all around the world, including New York, London and Tokyo.
Hopefully, you’re inspired to host your own Teddy Bears’ Picnic on 10th July! We’ve got a few ideas for Steiff lovers of all ages.
The Traditional Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Gather up your favourite bears, pack a picnic and head down to your nearest woodland! Spend the day relaxing and sipping tea with your fuzzy friends, or invite some humans along too to share the fun.
Hide and Seek Teddy Bears’ Picnic
To add a bit of healthy competition, get an observer to hide your bears around the house or garden and have a competition with your friends to see who can find the most bears. After all that hard work, enjoy a picnic with your teddies – just make sure you find them all first so no bear is left behind!
The Musical Teddy Bears’ Picnic
The original Teddy Bears’ Picnic tune was composed by John Walter Bratton in 1907, with lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. However, this famous melody has been covered by many stars from across the musical spectrum over the years. Why not listen to different versions of the song and find your favourite? The song has been recorded by none other than Bing Crosby, the Grateful Dead lead singer Jerry Garcia and Are You Being Served? actor John Inman.
The ‘Treat Yourself’ Teddy Bears’ Picnic
What better excuse for a little bit of retail therapy, than Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day? Browse our selection of Steiff Teddy Bears and see who takes your fancy. If you’re looking for a bear for a little one, we’ve got plenty of soft, washable plush teddies to choose from. However, we also have classic Steiff collectable bears like Steiff Classic 1920 Bear. Or why not make the day more memorable with Steiff 2021 Year Bear – if they’re not part of your collection already!
So there you have it – our top tips for how to celebrate any teddy bear lover’s favourite day – Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day. A great excuse to appreciate the teddy bears in your life, and take a leaf out of their book – head down to the woods without a care in the world, have a lovely picnic with your friends and be tucked up in bed by six o’clock. Sounds like our perfect day!
Why not leave us a comment below to let us know your favourite Steiff bear, or tell us how you’ll be celebrating Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day this year – we can’t wait to hear your suggestions.